specialists, medical services & pharmacies

English Speaking Cancer AssociationOur office is located in the Ecumenical Centre, 150 Rte de Ferney in Grand Saconnex. There is free parking in front of the building. ESCA is a non-profit association of volunteers and professionals that offers emotional support, practical help and information in English to cancer patients, their carers and loved ones living in the Geneva, Vaud and French border areas. We come from all walks of life and from many different countries. While we speak several different languages among us, our shared language is English.

Health FirstPenny Fraser and Michelle Wright teach First Aid in English and French. She has a passion for delivering health education and First Aid training to the English-speaking community in Switzerland. Check her website for course dates and prices.

Foot TreatmentsAre carried out by Podologues-Pedicures. Therapy and treatments are carried out by Orthopedic Technicians. You can search for these specialists in your area using this website.

PharmaciesIf you need medications after normal shopping hours there are stand-by chemists/pharmacies ("pharmacie de garde") open 24 hours a day. They change weekly - for Geneva they are listed at Pharmageneve. In Switzerland, you can also call 111 (directory assistance) and ask for the "pharmacie de garde" closest to you.

Both in Switzerland and in France, you will also find the "pharmacie de garde" in the newspapers (for France check the weekly paper Le Pays Gessien: Société en Vie section under En Garde). Also, a notice is posted on the door of each pharmacy with the name and address of the one that is open.

​Homeopathic medicines are of the highest quality in Switzerland and may be found at pharmacies.

Most prescriptions cost much less in France. To save money on medicine you may ask your Swiss Doctor to write the prescription using the French name if it exists (names of medications differ between Switzerland and France) and have the prescription filled in France. Many French pharmacies have a medical reference book where they can find translations.